GOVERNMENT-INDUSTRY FORUM ON NON-FOOD USES OF CROPS

Agriculture Minister of State Joyce Quin today announced the appointment of members of the Government-industry forum on non-food uses of crops.

The forum has been set up to provide strategic advice to Government and industry on the development of non-food uses of crops.

Welcoming the establishment of the forum Joyce Quin said :

"I am delighted that the forum is now in place. It has a very important job to do and I am particularly pleased that we have been able to assemble such a strong team.

"Crops have the potential to deliver renewable raw materials for many sectors of industry. But there are barriers to overcome before this potential can be realised. The forum will provide us with strategic advice on how to achieve this.

"I hope that all those with an interest in the development of the sector, from industry, farming, the scientific community and environmental interests will support the forum in its work."

Biographical details of the Chairman and members are set out below.

Industry members

Chairman : Mr Robert Margetts CBE

Chairman of Legal and General Group Plc. Chairman - Europe of Huntsman Corporation. Director of Anglo American Plc. Chairman of Natural Environment Research Council. Member of Council for Science and Technology. Member of Advisory Committee on Business and the Environment. Fellow of Royal Academy of Engineering. Fellow of Institution of Chemical Engineers. Governor and Fellow of Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine. Member of Council of Chemical Industries Association.

Professor Dianna Bowles

Chair of Biochemistry, Department of Biology, York University. Research Director of Centre for Novel Agricultural Products, York University. Independent member of MAFF Central Science Laboratory Ownership Board. Member of EU DGXII Life Sciences and Technologies External Advisory Group on Cell Factories. Member of Foresight Panel Task Force on "Unlocking the potential of industrial crops".

Dr David Carmichael

Farmer. Arable and specialist Nursery Enterprise in Lincolnshire. Commissioner, Agriculture & Environment Biotechnology Commission.

Mrs Pamela Castle

Partner and Head of Environmental Law, CMS Cameron Mckenna. Member of Royal Society of Chemistry. Chairman, United Kingdom Environmental Law Association (UKELA). Fellow of Institute of Wastes Management. Member of Natural Environment Research Council.

Dr Paul Ekins

Head, Environment Group, Policy Studies Institute. Professor of Sustainable Development, Keele University. A Founder, and now Associate Director, of Forum for the Future. Member of National Consumer Council. Specialist Adviser to Environmental Audit Committee.

Dr Ray Marriott

Managing Director of Botanix Ltd. Member of Foresight Panel Task Force on "Unlocking the potential of industrial crops".

Dr Richard Miller

Director of Knowledge and Sustainability of Uniqema (a member of the ICI group). ICI Senior Research Fellow and Technology Board member. Member of Foresight Panel Task Force on "Unlocking the potential of industrial crops".

Mr Andy Taylor

Director of Corporate Citizenship, Ford Motor Company Ltd.

Government members

Miss Sarah Hendry

Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Head of GM & Industrial Crops Division.

Dr Terence Ilott

Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions. Head of Environment, Business and Consumers Division.

Mr Ian Shaw

Department of Trade and Industry. Head of Agrochemicals and Agri-business section.

Secretariat Secretary

Mr Patrice Mongelard

Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. GM & Industrial Crops Division.

Technical advisers

Dr Donal Murphy-Bokern

Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Chief Scientist's Group. Head of Arable Crops, Agri-industrial Materials and Pesticides Unit.

Mr Melvyn Askew

Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food, Central Science Laboratory. Head of Alternative Crops and Biotechnology Group. Co-ordinator of Interactive European Network for Industrial Crops and their Applications (IENICA) project.

Notes for Editors

1. In November 1999 the House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology reported on non-food crops (HL Paper 5) and recommended the establishment of an interdepartmental committee to co-ordinate Government policy on non-food crops and develop their industrial applications. The Government response (HL Paper 54) accepted the idea of such a strategic body, with the addition of industry and scientific interests, to provide a focus on commercial applications. The establishment of a new Government-industry forum on non-food uses of crops was signalled in the Rural White Paper, published on 28 November 2000.

2. The terms of reference of the forum are: To provide strategic advice to Government and industry on the development of non-food uses of crops. In particular to keep under review technological developments and market opportunities for non-food uses of crops; to make recommendations on policy affecting non-food uses of crops and on R & D priorities; to publish an annual report.

3. The forum will meet quarterly, starting with a first meeting in the Spring.

4. The appointments run from 1 March 2001 to 29 February 2004. Industry members of the forum are paid attendance fees for meetings and are reimbursed all reasonable travelling and subsistence costs. The fees are currently £185 for the Chairman and £145 for other members.

5. No political activities have been declared by the members.

6. Some of the members hold other current Ministerial appointments as follows (with remuneration where applicable) : Mr Robert Margetts - Chairman Natural Environment Research Council (£13,300 per year), Advisory Committee on Business and the Environment, Council for Science and Technology; Professor Dianna Bowles - MAFF Central Science Laboratory Ownership Board (£293 per day); Dr David Carmichael - Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission (£150 per day); Mrs Pamela Castle - Chairman Thames Region Environmental Protection Advisory Committee of Environment Agency (£15,400 per year), National Radiological Protection Board, Port of London Authority Board (£18,300 per year), Natural Environment Research Council (£5,300 per year), Fire Safety Advisory Board; Dr Paul Ekins - National Consumer Council (£5,446 per year).

7. Any enquiries or comments should be addressed to the forum Secretary : Patrice Mongelard, Room 426B, Whitehall Place East, London SW1A 2HH. Tel 0207 270 8224; Fax 0207 270 8607; E-mail patrice.mongelard@maff.gsi.gov.uk

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